diff --git a/logger.c b/logger.c
index 669a2d601..f5c776ddf 100644
--- a/logger.c
+++ b/logger.c
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ extern int logger_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	} else {
 		if (argc >= 1) {
 			int len = 1; /* for the '\0' */
+			message=xcalloc(1, 1);
 			for (; *argv != NULL; argv++) {
 				len += strlen(*argv);
 				len += 1;  /* for the space between the args */
diff --git a/sysklogd/logger.c b/sysklogd/logger.c
index 669a2d601..f5c776ddf 100644
--- a/sysklogd/logger.c
+++ b/sysklogd/logger.c
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ extern int logger_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	} else {
 		if (argc >= 1) {
 			int len = 1; /* for the '\0' */
+			message=xcalloc(1, 1);
 			for (; *argv != NULL; argv++) {
 				len += strlen(*argv);
 				len += 1;  /* for the space between the args */